What Cycle Tourism can do for the economy - lessons from around the world, APCC15

We heard from tourism departments of New Zealand, Japan, Tasmania, Flight centre's active travel direct, councils from Australian country towns all discussing the economic benefits of Cycle Tourism to their communities and the economy.
As you can imagine Cycle Tourism comes in an assortment of flavours. I've broken them down to 4 major areas:

1. Day Tours around the city
Target: Tourists
Economic Benefit: Tour operators, local businesses along the tour 


Examples: Mike's bike tours of Amsterdam, trip advisor for day trip operators

2. Fun Special Events
Target: Families, occasional cyclists
Economic Benefit: Huge burst of visitors to the city, lunch spendings, bike and bike related purchases, People use public transport

Examples: The gong ride, Spring cycle

3. Big Races
Target: Racers, Race groupies
Economic Benefit: Groupies visiting country side and staying for long periods during the race, film and support crew

Examples: Tour de France, Tour down under

4. Long distance cycle touring
Target: Cycle tourists
Economic Benefit: Smaller country towns get visitors that would normally miss out, travel tour packages, B&B businesses
 
Examples: Rail Trail rides in New Zealand, Flight centre's active travel agency is booming

The needs of the Cycling tourism industry

• Infrastructure
• Marketing
• Signage
• Maps
• Good info about facilities, food, water, accommodation